Reentry Housing Resources Near You

A guide to finding transitional living, nonprofit support, and emergency shelter after incarceration.

Start with your local reentry network

Nearly every metro area has organizations dedicated to helping people returning from incarceration find housing, work, and support. Your probation or parole officer, public defender office, or county human services department can usually provide a current list of local programs.

Dialing 211 connects you to a free, confidential referral service in most of the United States that can point you to emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rental assistance programs in your area.

Types of housing support to look for

Different programs fit different situations:

• Transitional and halfway housing: structured, time-limited housing that bridges release and independent living
• Rapid re-housing programs: short-term rental assistance plus case management
• Housing vouchers: some public housing authorities consider applicants with records on a case-by-case basis
• Faith-based and nonprofit reentry programs: often combine housing with employment help and mentorship

While you work toward a lease

Use time in a transitional program to build the record landlords want to see: steady income, savings for a deposit, and reference letters from program staff. Many successful renters with records started with a program reference as their strongest document.